No Charges In Fatal Gillette Shooting, Actions “Reasonable”

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) – Police in Gillette aren’t pursuing charges in a Jan 31 shooting death, ruling that the shooter acted in self-defense.

21-year-old Steven Peterson shot his friend, 24-year-old Jesse Flores, when they got in an argument after drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

Police say their investigation shows Flores threatened Peterson, who locked himself in his bedroom with a handgun.

Peterson told officers that as Flores tried to manipulate the lock, he heard a noises that sounded like the cycling of a slide on an automatic pistol – so he fired when Flores came into the room.

Police say Peterson cooperated with investigators, who found a handgun outside the bedroom door, and that they found his actions “reasonable.”